All offseason Georgia football fans have been talking about how difficult UGA's schedule will be during the 2025 season. But what if Georgia fans have it all wrong? What if the Bulldogs actually have one of the easiest schedules in the SEC?
CBS Sports analyst Brandon Marcello decided to rank the strength of schedules in the SEC, but instead of just looking at who everyone plays he looked at other data including timing of bye weeks, order of opponents and projections. When doing so, Marcello decided that Georgia had the 3rd easiest schedule in the SEC.
CBS Sports ranks Georgia's strength of schedule 14 out of 16 in the SEC
This ranking may come as a surprise because the Bulldogs are scheduled to play Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Ole Miss this season. Thankfully Marcello explained why he thinks Georgia has one of the easier schedules in the SEC conference this year.
"Any schedule with Alabama, Tennessee and Texas is difficult, but the setup is about as good as it can get for Georgia," Marcello shared via 247sports.com. "The Bulldogs travel only to Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State, and do not have back-to-back road games. The Bulldogs also get a week to rest and prepare for Alabama (Sept. 27) after traveling to Tennessee (Sept. 13). Hosting Alabama and Texas is huge."
Marcello's main reason for ranking Georgia's strength of schedule No. 14 is because of the setup of their schedule. Only having three true road games is massive, and getting their two most difficult opponents at home is huge. It's also beneficial having a bye week after an emotional Tennessee game right before UGA hosts Alabama.
5 cupcake games for Georgia this season
Marcello then went on to share that the Bulldogs have a lot of easy opponents on their schedule this season as well.
"Otherwise, the Bulldogs get to feast on the bottom half of the SEC (Kentucky and Mississippi State) and play payout games against Marshall, Austin Peay and Charlotte," Marcello continued. "The Georgia Tech game will also be played inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium instead of Bobby Dodd Stadium, and it's sure to be filled mostly with Bulldog fans."
Those five games (Kentucky, Mississippi State, Marshall, Austin Peay and Charlotte) essentially are guaranteed wins. Then Georgia plays rival Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season which will end up feeling like a home game for UGA.
So all in all, Marcello makes some good points as to why Kirby Smart and Georgia's schedule is easier than people think this year. Hopefully he is correct because Georgia fans want to play for an SEC Championship again this year and make a deeper run in the College Football Playoff, and an easier schedule makes that feel very possible.